The Meghalaya government is awaiting the approval of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on creation of another “ex-cadre” post in the state to accommodate a senior IPS officer even when the MHA had directed the State to abolish the post.
“We are still waiting for the approval of Home Ministry on the creation of a second ex-cadre post DGP (Prisons),” Meghalaya Chief Minister DD Lapang told reporters here.
Interestingly, the MHA had written to the Meghalaya government to abolish the post of DG Prisons as it was not found tenable.
Criticising the ruling Congress government for violating appointment norms, the opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also demanded for immediate abolishment of the second ex-cadre DGP post.
“The creation of the post is a violation of the norms prescribed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the state government should immediately abolish the second ex-cadre post,” NCP Spokesman James K Sangma said.
It may be mentioned that the Meghalaya Government created the post of DG (Prisons) to accommodate Kulbir Krishan after he was sacked from the office of Acting DGP.
However, in a letter to the State Government on October 23, the MHA asked the former to abolish the post of DG (Prisons) as it was in excess of the prescribed ratio of 1:1.
Besides the post of Director General of Police (DGP), Meghalaya can have only one ex-cadre post, which is the post of Director General (Home Guards & Civil Defence).